Iline Annette Meek died peacefully in her home Saturday morning, December 14, 2013, surrounded by family which was her greatest wish.

She was born on March 17, 1917, on a farm in North Dakota that her father had homesteaded.

She lived her growing years without electricity or running water. Her legs had almost frozen walking to school in the below zero winter and as a result she never grew hair on her legs. As a child she picked rocks out of the fields, herded cows to greener pastures, caught prairie dogs for a penny a head for the government and basically worked hard her entire life.

When asked what her secret was for her long life, she replied "hard work never hurt anyone" and that belief was at her very core.

She knew that she did not want to be a farmer’s wife so after high school graduation she moved to Spokane, Wash., and went to business college. After working as a bookkeeper for several years, she met her husband Kenneth Meek at a little mission in downtown Spokane. She often joked that she had to go to "skid row" to get a husband. Kenneth was a minister, so Iline spent many years as a minister’s wife. They built a home in Woodinville in 1978 next to her daughter. Kenneth died in 1998.

Iline and Kenneth had four children: Darlene Durfee, Kendell Meek, Ron Meek and Donald Meek. Her children produced 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Graveside servinces have been held.There will also be a celebration of life on Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. at Mercy Seat Church, 5110 196th St. SW., Suite 101 Lynnwood, Wash.